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We sat down with Joe Harper and got these answers to our
questions about his retirement and career at Kent JMC.
JMC: Why retire now?
JH: I had thought about retiring
this summer, but after [Director] Jeff [Fruit] and I talked
about the grad review, I felt Dec. 31 made sense. I turned
65 during the summer, and, frankly, teaching undergraduates
has become increasingly frustrating, especially in courses
such as Media Info Gathering and Media Writing.
JMC: What do you see as your biggest
accomplishment, either as director or as a faculty member?
JH: When school started in the fall
of 1982, it marked the fifth straight year a different person
was in the director's chair. I think simply surviving the
first few years was an accomplishment. Of course, merging
the print and broadcast programs, certainly was a major accomplishment.
But perhaps the biggest accomplishment, in retrospect, was
developing a professional program and demonstrating that
our top students could compete on a professional level.
JMC: How about the flip side? What
was your biggest disappoinment?
JH: I'm not sure how to word this,
but the biggest disappointment relates to the failure to provide
hundreds, even thousands, of students, especially undergraduates,
with the education I believe they need to excel in the 21st
century. I have felt helpless so often in trying to convince
students (and occasionally colleagues) that a college graduate
should know how the government works and the court system
and basic math and grammar and evolution and the importance
of the Renaissance and . . . so much more.
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I don't consider myself an educated person,
but I think I know -- and knew as a college graduate -- considerably
more than we require of students today. One personal goal
for my remaining years is to extend my education in a number
of these fields.
JMC: At your retirement party,
you said several times that it had been "A good ride."
In what ways?
JH: I think so. Sure, there
have been many bumps along the way, but I think we made headway
in a number of areas. It's certainly the longest ride of my
career. And the last 2-3 years with Jeff have been rewarding.
JMC: Memories? Good or bad?
JH: There are so many good memories
and a few terrible ones. For both, the academic and the personal
memories blend together. My doctor now admits he didn't expect
me to recover from the stroke to the degree I have.... So
I've been fortunate, although I don't have the energy I used
to have, which encourages one to consider retiring.
JMC: And you'll stay busy how?
JH: I have four or five grad students
who I'm still working
with, and I plan to stay involved with the Media Mindsets
project. Jeff and I have talked about a couple of things but
nothing definite. I doubt if I will be teaching MIG unless
STRS goes bankrupt!
Harper retirement
party
Harper sees
JMC through tough times
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